Keep updated with TWIC
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TWIC 2013 Excursions
Details for the our excursions in the first half of the 2013 season are now available. Read all about them here.
Borders Phase 1 Training Events
To date, TWIC have organised two phase 1 training events for volunteers; the first in May 2011 and the second in April 2012. As a result of these events a number of volunteers have come forward to check habitats in their local area. The data generated from this work is proving invaluable and will inform the next stage of the process. Further work will target those habitats that appear to be incorrectly classified or missed from the dataset, but data for areas local to volunteers remains useful.
TWIC would like to thank everyone who has undertaken volunteer surveys to date.
Forthcoming training events
The next training event will be on Wednesday 15th May 2013, 10am – 4pm at Harestanes Visitor Centre, near Ancrum, Jedburgh, TD8 6UQ. If you have previous experience of phase 1 surveying and have some time available over the summer to check habitats in your area, this 1 day workshop may be for you.
The course will be a combination of a classroom based session to introduce people to the project and a field visit to the environs of Harestanes to demonstrate what is required in the field. After the workshop participants should be ready to go out and check habitats in their area.
Booking for this workshop is essential as places are limited. Download your booking form here.
Volunteers Needed for Two BIOBLITZ Events this Summer
TWIC, in collaboration with Scottish Borders Council, are planning two Bioblitz events this June. The first will be on Saturday 1 June at Harestanes Visitor Centre, near Ancrum, Jedburgh (TD8 6UQ). The second event will be on Sunday 16 June at Wilton Lodge Park, Hawick (TD9 7JL). The latter event will coincide with Hawick Museums’ exhibition on 'Minibeasts', which is opening on 18th May and running throughout the summer months.
We are seeking experts for a range of taxonomic groups to volunteer for these event. Each expert would be allocated a timeslot to lead a group around the grounds to enthuse them about their taxonomic interest. The target audience of the Bioblitz is members of the public, including families, but the event may also be attended by people with a general interest in wildlife recording. The other main aim of the Bioblitz is to generate species records for the site, in particular under-recorded groups. Experts can opt to lead as many sessions as they wish, so do not necessarily have to be present for the entire event.
If you would like to participate in either event, please get in touch with the relevant Bioblitz coordinator (listed below), stating your name/organisation, contact telephone/email address, your area of expertise and availability.
Harestanes Bioblitz coordinator: Graeme Wilson (TWIC Manager). Email: graeme@wildlifeinformation.co.uk or telephone 01875 825968.
Wilton Park Lodge Bioblitz coordinator: Natalie Harmsworth (TWIC Ecologist). Email: natalie@wildlifeinformation.co.uk or telephone 01875 825968.
TWIC Workshops
TWIC are running a series of identification workshops in 2013 for various species groups. These are now fully booked. Thank you for all your interest, it's been great to see such a high take up of places.
Leopard Slugs and Badgers Survey
TWIC is excited to announce that we are launching our new public survey. This time we are focusing on the Badger (Meles meles) and the Leopard Slug (Limax maximus), two common yet under-recorded species. For more information, or to submit a record of one of these species, please visit our survey page.
Get involved
There are a number of ways that you can get involved. One of the most important ways is to send in your wildlife sightings to TWIC. These can range from ad hoc records to dedicated monitoring work over a number of survey seasons. The beauty about recording is anyone can contribute and there is something for all levels of experience.
We are also offering membership to anyone who wants to get involved with us. To see what benefits you could gain by becoming a member of TWIC, click here.
Have you seen a Hedgehog?
Research shows that numbers of hedgehogs have declined by up to 25% - is this true locally? We have very limited data on hedgehogs in Lothians and the Borders and TWIC would like to get a clearer picture of where there are hedgehogs. We want you to tell us every time you see a hedgehog (even the dead ones at the side of the road). Find out how to send us your records, submit them online or learn more about hedgehogs on our Hedgehog Survey page.
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